The Commons ethics committee has tabled an all-party report that in part calls on the federal government to establish a foreign influence registry as soon as possible.
“The creation of a foreign influence registry has been proposed many times in recent years, but no bill has been passed. Several allied countries have established foreign influence registries,” the committee report said.
“Foreign interference activities are often contrary to the values and interests of the targeted country, threatening many sectors in democratic societies. Canada is not immune to foreign interference.”
In preparing the report, the committee said it looked at various aspects of foreign interference, with a certain focus on targets and tactics used by the People’s Republic of China and Russia.
In total, the committee put forward 22 recommendations that it said aimed to improve Canada’s response to foreign interference activities, enhance government transparency in national security matters, and restore Canadians’ trust in democratic institutions.
No Movement
Quebec Senator Leo Housakos introduced a public bill in the Senate on Feb. 24, 2022. Senate Bill S-237, “An Act to Establish the Foreign Influence Registry,” has been in progress in second reading for 18 months following first reading, reported Blacklock’s Reporter on Oct. 25.
The bill, if passed, would make it law for individuals acting on behalf of a foreign government, a foreign political organization, or an individual or entity related to such a body to publicly disclose their affiliations, under threat of a fine of up to $200,000 or a jail term of up to two years or both.
In March this year, Mr. Housakos said in the Senate: “Why don’t we do our job? Get the ball rolling instead of wasting another year in consultations and maybe have another election before we get anything done.”
Bloc Québécois MP René Villemure, vice-chair of the Commons ethics committee, said on Oct. 24 that all members agreed that a registry must be implemented. “We want to make sure this happens,” he told reporters
Other countries that have already established their own registries include the United States and Australia. The United States has had a Foreign Agents Registration Act since 1938. In 2018, Australia implemented its version, the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act, to track foreign agents and their activities.
So far the Canadian cabinet has talked about a registry but has not adopted any such measure. In February, then-minister of public safety Marco Mendicino said there was an “intention” to bring one in.
“There is an intention to begin consultations on the possibility of creating such an initiative, but before we do that, we have to be sure Canadians understand why,” Mr. Mendicino said in response to a question from fellow Liberal MP Jean Yip about introducing a registry.
Another Liberal MP asked if there was some reason not to get a registry in place.
“Is there something that gives hesitance or pause on the utility of a registry?” asked Liberal MP Peter Fragiskatos.
“I wouldn’t describe it as hesitation,” Mr. Mendicino said at the time. “I think we need to be diligent and thoughtful and inclusive when it comes to bringing all Canadians along.”
The Liberal government announced in March that it would establish a foreign influence registry in response to mounting pressure from multiple national security leaks in the media that depicted widespread interference by the Chinese regime.
Public consultations was launched March 10, accepting online submissions until May 9, but nothing else around the registry has been announced.Bloc Québécois MP René Villemure announced on Oct. 25 that he will table a foreign agent registry bill in the coming days because the Liberal government has not made it a priority.
He said that his bill will ask both foreign agents and the Canadian party connected to the agent to register, and require both of the two parties to declare meetings. Mr. Villemure said this will make it easier to trace foreign-led activities.
A public inquiry into foreign interference began Sept. 18 and an interim report is due in February 2024.
Noé Chartier contributed to this report.
